Maria Shriver Shares Brain Health Tips from Leading Experts

By Maria Shriver

The first groundbreaking Move for Minds event brought together leading brain experts from around the country both to dispel the myths that there is nothing a person can do to prevent Alzheimer’s, and to highlight just how much can be done to prevent, or slow, memory loss and the disease in many cases. Healthy lifestyle choices, starting from a young age, can make a big difference. Even adjusting lifestyle at older ages can still have a positive impact on fighting the disease.

Hormone therapy. Hormone therapy is appropriate for treating symptoms of perimenopause and menopause such as hot flashes, insomnia, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Hormone therapy is not effective many years past menopause and when there are no symptoms of menopause.

Vitamins. Individuals should take Vitamin D to reduce inflammation and B Vitamins including folic acid to aid metabolism.

4. CC Donavan, Director of Education for the Brain Health and Wellness Center

Omega-3s. Omega-3 fatty acids make up a major part of our brain cells but can only be ingested, not made by our bodies. Sources of Omega-3s including fish, fish oils, green leafy vegetables, walnuts, and chia, hemp and flax seeds.

Clinical trials. Alzheimer’s prevention clinical trials are currently underway for both early-onset (genetic) and late onset disease. To learn more about getting involved in a study, visit http://www.alzu.org.

Beat stress with your breath. Our breath is the easiest, cheapest, and most portable tool we have to reduce stress each day. Combat anxiety by evenly matching the length of your inhale to that of your exhale.

Remember to recharge. Legs-up-the-wall pose is one of the lights-out, best-on-earth ways to revitalize a tired body and boost your brain power. Simply recline comfortably on the floor with both legs resting on a nearby wall.

10. Dr. Pamela Peeke, Host of HER radio, Author of New York Times bestsellers Body for Life for Women and The Hunger Fix

Stand up. Stand up as much as you can throughout your day to stimulate the growth of new brain cells.

Relax. Close your eyes, rest your mind and rejuvenate your brain cells as often as you can each day.

Mindful eating. Research has shown that people who cook at home are generally healthier and have lower rates of chronic disease than those who don’t cook at home. Mindful, relaxed eating helps to support neuroplasticity, decrease inflammation, alleviate stress, and improve digestion.

12. Lily Sarafan, CEO, Home Care Assistance

Eat superfoods. Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods that promote physical and mental well-being by increasing circulation and promoting blood flow to the brain.

Minimize stress. Stress shuts down systems in your body, including the part of your brain that allows you to learn. In order to reduce stress, set aside personal time for yoga, meditation or prayer.

Heart Health. What’s good for your heart is god for your brain. Try a Mediterranean Diet.

Deep sleep. Get 7-8 hours of sleep. During the deepest stage of sleep, your brain consolidates memories and cleans itself out of the protein debris that can cause disease like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Healthy body, healthy mind. All of our body’s systems are intimately connected. Cognitive abilities take a hit when other systems of the body are ailing. Eat well, exercise, and see your doctor regularly to take good care of your brain and body.

Head protection. Head injuries from contact sports and everyday accidents can have a huge impact on the brain that may not manifest until many years later. If you or your children are engaged in contact sports, or if you ride bicycles or motorbikes, be mindful of the potential consequences of multiple head injuries on your brain, and always wear protective helmets if you are engaged in these activities.

Maria Shriver is a mother of four, a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist and producer, a six-time New York Times best-selling author, and an NBC News Special Anchor covering the shifting roles, emerging power and evolving needs of women in modern life. Since 2009, Shriver has produced a groundbreaking series of Shriver Reports that chronicle and explore seismic shifts in the American culture and society affecting women today. Shriver was California’s First Lady from 2003 to 2010 and, during that time, she spearheaded what became the nation’s premier forum for women, The Women’s Conference. Shriver’s work is driven by her belief that all of us have the ability to be what she calls Architects of Change — people who see a problem in their own life or the community around them, then step out of their comfort zone and do what it takes to create the solution. Like her page on Facebook or follow her on Instagram.

This is a great, simple guide to brain health! So few people are aware of just how much our lifestyle choices can influence the risk of dementia later in life. I love the idea of Move For Minds. I’d really like to create an event similar to this at my university. Thanks for the inspiration!